Animals go back into wild after ExxonMobil oil spill cleanup in Mayflower

Turtle being released after being cleaned from the Mayflower, Arkansas oil spill. (Photo: Steve Payne, THV 11)

MAYFLOWER, Ark. (KTHV) - Some animals affected by the ExxonMobil oil spill in Mayflower went back into the wild Monday afternoon. They had been covered in heavy crude oil after a pipeline ruptured in the Faulkner County city more than a week ago.

Exxon contracted Wildlife Response Services to rehabilitate the oily animals. Now, after being treated, some of them are going back into their natural habitat.

On Monday, a handful of turtles, a lizard, and two raccoons were released back into the wild. But before they were well enough to get back out on their own, the wildlife workers spent time giving them some extra TLC.

"(The animals) are given a medical exam and put into an area where they can stay nice and calm," explained Rhonda Myrgatroyt, the rehab center's director.

She said initially the animals are left alone, in order to recover from the stress of being transported from their home to the center. After rest, they are bathed and cleaned using a combination of a common household product and a specialized cleaning agent for the oil.

"Dawn (soap) of course!" she responded when asked what is used to clean the animals. "However, Dawn doesn't take care of everything. We like to break the oil down before we use the Dawn, so we're using Methylsoyate."

Exxon's biologist, Rich Woods, estimates that crews have treated about 80 affected animals as a result of the oil spill; at least 15 of them have died.